CH 160

[The Former Sword Master, the Magic Swordsman, and the Lady Mage]

When night arrives, a small feast is held using the meat of Dragon Newts and other monsters that Al and the others have subjugated, and I see that only us, but also the youngsters who have been desperately built the village are able to relax and enjoy themselves.

“Frick-san, do you have a moment?” (Al)

Al, having found me, beckons to come to the back of a cabin.

As I follow her to the back of the cabin, which has no one else around, Al who is walking in front of me turns around.

Because I didn’t expect Al would turn back suddenly, we are about to bump into each other.

“Whoa, watch out!” (Frick)

“Ah, sorry!” (Al)

Al’s face – whom I almost bumped into – overlaps with the face of the black eyed and black haired Alfine.

“Eh? Shouldn’t I be the one apologizing instead?” (Frick)

“Frick-san, ‘who’ of ‘when’ do you think you are talking with?” (Al)

“My bad, it’s just, I feel like it hasn’t been a long time ago since then, but I feel like it has become a thing of the distant past as well.” (Frick)

“What a coincidence, I feel the same way.” (Al)

Since she declared that she would be living as the adventurer Al in the frontier count family’s mansion in the royal capital, she no longer calls me Finn.

I purposefully don’t call her Alfine, either.

Because both within me or her, Sword Master Alfine and her partner Finn have ended that part of their lives, and have since chosen to live a new life as the young adventurer Al and Crimson Magic Swordsman Frick.

“So, do you have something to talk about with me?” (Frick)

“Yes, we’re thinking that it’s about time we leave the village. It looks like Cinzia-sama and Gawain-sama will be staying here, after all.” (Al)

Al looks straight into my eyes and tells me that she is going to leave the village.

I have somehow expected it, but she will be leaving for real, huh…

Because we have decided to live with a new name and appearance, I knew we wouldn’t be able to return to our original relationship, however.

“I see… do you already have a destination in mind?” (Frick)

“No, not yet. But, since Meila, Maribel, and Sophie will be coming along with me, I’m sure things will work out somehow.” (Al)

Alfine was cowardly, timid, and prone to worrying, that was why she couldn’t relax her guard around anyone other than me who grew up together with her.

That Alfine is now telling me that she has opened her heart to young women of her age and is going to walk up a new path— I feel really happy for her.

“I see, you sure have made some precious friends, Al.” (Frick)

“Un, they are indeed very precious friends to me. I can live my life to the utmost like this thanks to them!” (Al)

Seeing Al smiling and puffing up with pride, I’m convinced that the weak little girl that I had always been protecting has grown up to be an adult who, although with the help of others, strives to overcome the hardships she faces.

With the way Al now, I can end my vow to protect her that I made when I was a kid.

A vow that I made thinking that it was my mission to protect Alfine, who was a crybaby and afraid of strangers.

However, I grew frustrated by her who didn’t stop being selfish and acting spoiled, and ended up breaking up our relationship, completely forgetting the vow.

The vow that tied up our relationship.

I’ll let that vow ends right here, right now, and we will go separate ways to spin new relationships.

“Al…” (Frick)

“Please don’t make such a face. I’m going to embark on a new journey to pursue my new dream, after all.” (Al)

“Your new dream?” (Frick)

“Yes, I’m aiming to become a true ‘sword master’. Of course, by ‘true’, I mean someone not only refined in terms of sword skill but also personality, like First Sword Master-sama who is still loved by many people even now. At that time, I hope Crimson Magic Swordsman Frick-san would be willing to have a spar with me.” (Al)

Al knows that she’s a replica of First Sword Master, but she declares that she’s aiming to become a ‘true sword master’ with a face so serious that I can’t think of her to be joking.

A true sword master, huh… if it’s the current Al – though it’ll take some time – I’m sure she will make it.

Al has even discovered her dream before I knew it, huh.

I can’t fall behind either.

“Got it. At that time, let’s go all out with no holds barred. I will train my Spell Sword so that I won’t be beaten black and blue by Al who has become a sword master by then and so that I won’t disappoint you.” (Frick)

“I look forward to it. But can you swear that you will fight with your all without holding back when I meet you again as a sword master?” (Al)

I pull out Dayle who’s sheathed in her scabbard.

[Uwa!? Master, is it meal time~? I’m still full, though~]

“Dayle-chan is the same as usual, I see. But if she acts as the witness, she would never forget it, right?” (Al)

Al, too, pulls out the short sword Gawain made, before putting it on Dayle’s blade.

[F-for some reason, Dayle woke up to a serious situation here!]

“I swear on my partner, the magic sword Dayle. When the adventurer Al becomes a true sword master and we meet again, I will fight her with everything I have.” (Frick)

The stacked blades rub against each other, making a clear metallic sound.

“……Finn, bye bye……”

I feel like I can hear Al, who is looking down, muttering that with a voice so faint that I barely catch it.

“Did you say something?” (Frick)

“Nope, not a thing. Well then, I’m going to leave the village now.” (Al)

“N-now? It’s already late at night, though.” (Frick)

“Meila, Maribel, and Sophie are waiting, so I have to go. Give Noelia-sama my regards, okay?” (Al)

When I follow Al’s line of sight, I see Meila, Maribel, and Sophie, on a wagon, beckoning at her.

“I see, be careful on your journey, then. And, don’t scavenge for food or sleep with your stomach revealed.” (Frick)

“I know that. I’m not a kid, so no need to worry.” (Al)

The grinning Al waves back at Meila and co, before starting to run towards them, leaving my side.

This is fine, right?

Yeah, this is fine.

“Fri~~~ck! I’ll make Al become a woman so splendid that you will extremely regret choosing Noelia over her! You’ll definitely regret it when you meet her agaiiin! Remember that!” (Meila)

“M-Meila! What embarrassing thing are you saying! I told you I’ll continue to live as a man!” (Al)

Hearing the words of Meila leaning out of the wagon, Al becomes flustered and increase the speed at which she’s running.

I mutter while seeing off that back of hers,

“……See you, Alfine……” (Frick)

After Al gets on, the wagon disappears into the forest.

“Haah, haah, haah! Al-sama and the others!?” (Noelia)

Noelia’s breath is ragged, probably because she ran over in a hurry.

“They’ve set off. She has stepped forth to pursue her new dream of becoming a ‘true sword master’ with her friends. And Al told me to give her regards to you.” (Frick)

“No way… even though we’ve become friends… For her to leave without saying anything…” (Noelia)

“She’ll be back again. We have to do our best so that Al isn’t disappointed at us at that time.” (Frick)

“Might it be my fault, after all?” (Noelia)

Noelia seems to think that Al left because of our engagement.

If I get asked whether I thought of Alfine as a lover back in the day, I can confidently declare no, now.

To me, she was a ‘family’ I had to protect.

And now she has grown up into an adult and doesn’t require me to protect her, she is walking towards her goal.

That is my interpretation of the matter.

To be honest, I can’t guess Al’s innermost thoughts.

However, one thing I know is that the one who I want live my new life as Frick with is Noelia.

“That’s not the case. Of that, I can assure you. Anyways, there’s something I have to make sure to tell you, so I’m going to say it now.” (Frick)

When I put my hands on her shoulders, Noelia, who has her face down, raises her face.

“You have something you have to tell me…?” (Noelia)

Her beautiful icy-blue eyes catch my eyes.

“Yeah, a lot of things happened one after another and I forgot to tell you the important thing. Can I, say it now?” (Frick)

“Y-yes. P-please go on!” (Noelia)

Noelia whose face reddens and body stiffens looks so lovely.

“I’m in love with you, Noelia. I mean, before that, can I fall in love with you? The engagement has proceeded ahead, but I’ve never asked about your feelings toward me, so I’ve been so anxious about it.” (Frick)

I say the words that I’ve been wanting to say for a long time but can’t.

We were swept by those around us and ended up engaged to each other, but I’ve never asked about her feelings toward myself, so I’ve been thinking that it may be a one-sided crush on my part.

Noelia, looking up at me, trembles and sheds large drops of tears from her icy-blue eyes.

“C-could it be a no? If Noelia doesn’t like me, then we should call off the engagement!?” (Frick)

The weeping Noelia grabs my hand tightly and shakes her head.

“No. That’s not it. It’s just, I’m so happy that my voice couldn’t come out. Are you really fine with me?” (Noelia)

“Ahh, I’m fine with Noelia. So, your answer…” (Frick)

“If Frick-sama is fine with me, then please let me be next to you!” (Noelia)

After saying that, Noelia jumps at me, and then her soft lips touch my lips.

Alright everyone, we finally made it to the end of this story. Phew, what a ride! I’m glad that it didn’t end with harem ending. Seeing Al’s growth in mentality is especially endearing, almost making me want to ship her with Frick, but no, Frick x Noelia is the best ship there is in this story. To be honest though, it’s a bit disappointing that it ends like this, there’re still plots that haven’t been resolved yet after all— in particular Boris’s scheme.